U.S. plans war to control Iraq's oil wealth: experts

"The U.S. is talking of war with Iraq not because Baghdad has allegedly amassed weapons of mass destruction but to control the country's huge oil reserves, say Indian analysts and oil industry sources.
The move, analysts say, was an effort to "reconstruct" the Middle East..."

LP News Online: September 2002: Libertarians work to pass FIJA law in South Dakota

This is a great, great thing. There is no reason that a person accused of a crime shouldn't be able to argue against unfair or unnecessary laws. I really hope this passes.

"Led by longtime LP activist Bob Newland, Common Sense Justice is working to convince voters to add Fully Informed Jury Amendment-style language to the state constitution.
If passed this November, the measure will "effectively enact a significant portion of the Libertarian Party's national platform" in South Dakota, said Newland, 54, who wrote the amendment.
Titled "Initiated Constitutional Amendment A," the measure allows defendants to debate the merits of a law — as well as the facts of a case — in a criminal trial."

Ben Hammersley.com: The connection between the space shuttle and a horse's arse.

"The U.S. standard railroad gauge of 4 feet-8.5 inches derives from the original specification for an Imperial Roman war chariot.
So the next time you are handed a specification and wonder what horse's ass
came up with it, you may be exactly right, because the Imperial Roman war
chariots were made just wide enough to accommodate the back end of two war
horses."

MSR Netscan - Usenet Social Accounting Search Engine

This is an interesting little project from Microsoft's research department. You can type in a word, and it'll find all the relevant newsgroups in Usenet, along with how many people visit, have posted, have replied, have returned, and many other interesting facts. Kind of a "mind map" of Usenet.

Davis OKs stem cell research / California is first state to encourage studies

"Challenging the Bush administration on one of the hottest controversies in medicine, Gov. Gray Davis on Sunday signed legislation intended to make California a haven for stem cell research.

The law makes California the first state in the nation to give its stamp of approval to research that scientists say could lead to breakthroughs in treating disorders ranging from Alzheimer's disease to spinal cord injuries. "

Selling Us a War We Don't Need.

"The problem with marketing campaigns is that they're not about facts -- advertising usually centers around an emotional pitch that can have little to do with the product itself. But given the gravity of the situation, it's critical that we read the fine print. After all, even though many people in the world will agree that Saddam Hussein is a fearsome and despotic leader, there is still slim evidence the explains why he is suddenly so much more of a threat now than before. And there has been little or no solid evidence supporting any threat of an Iraqi attack on the West or link to Al Qaeda offered, and certainly nothing indicating any clear and present danger."